STAAR

Elementary School STAAR assessments

Grade	Tests
3rd Grade	Reading, Math
4th Grade	Reading, Math, Writing
5th Grade	Reading, Math, Science

What to expect on the test

Math

• Fewer, deeper, clearer focus on standards.
• STAAR math is linked to college and career readiness and will emphasize “readiness” standards.
• Defined as those TEKS considered critical for success in the current grade or subject.
• Important for preparedness in the grade or subject that follows.

English/Language Arts

• STAAR Reading assessments emphasize the student's ability to think critically and inferentially about different types of texts. The 4th grade STAAR Writing Assessment requires an expository essay.

Science

• The elementary STAAR Science assessment is given in the 5th grade.  This assessment is a cumulative exam including standards from 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS).  The TEKS are building standards through 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades, meaning the content in 5th grade contains background knowledge the students learned in 3rd and 4th grades.

Student Performance

Once students have taken a STAAR assessment they will receive a score indicating their performance. Students will fall in to one of the four categories below:

• Masters
• Meets
• Approaches (Passing Standard)
• Did Not Meet

Time Limits

TEA established a four (4) hour time limit for STAAR grades 3-8 assessments. TEA notes that tests are designed to be finished in 2 hours however all students are provided fours to complete the test. The rationale for time limits aligns Texas testing practices with other timed state and national assessments, i.e. SAT, ACT and AP examinations. Extended time accommodations for students with unique learning needs will continue to be offered.

Impact on Grade Advancement

The Student Success Initiative requires that students in grades 5 and 8 pass both STAAR reading and math exams to be promoted to the next grade. Students will test in April.  Any student who needs to retest will be tested in May. Summer testing will be provided in June with a third opportunity to pass the STAAR 5th & 8th grade reading and math exams.

Middle School STAAR Assessments

Grade	Tests
6th Grade	Reading, Math
7th Grade	Reading, Math, Writing
8th Grade	Reading, Math, Science, Social Studies
Course Dependent	Algebra EOC For Students enrolled in high school math.

What to expect on the test

English/Language Arts

• STAAR Reading assessments place a greater emphasis on critical analysis of passages that demonstrates greater understanding of text than a literal analysis.
• The 7^th grade STAAR Writing Assessment includes two essays: a personal narrative with a clearly defined focus communicating the importance of reasons for actions and/or consequences and a multi-paragraph expository essay.

Mathematics

• Underlying processes and mathematical tools will be incorporated into at least 75% of the test questions from the content reporting categories and will be reported along with the content standards.
• Questions are cognitively complex. 
• Questions have multiple steps.
• The assessment includes questions that are asked in a reverse manner (e.g., “NOT” questions).
• The assessment includes questions where the answer could be “Not here”, "None of the above”, or “All of the above.”

Science

• STAAR Science assessments are a cumulative exam including standards from 6th, 7th and 8th grades. The TEKS are building standards through 6th, 7th, and 8th grades, meaning the content in 8th grade contains background knowledge the students learned in 6th and 7th grades.
• The assessment measures student grasp of concepts and skills built through middle school science.

Social Studies

• The assessment requires students to process information and arrive at a conclusion.
• The assessment requires students to read and analyze primary and secondary sources such as visuals, maps and excerpts. 

Student Performance

Once students have taken a STAAR assessment they will receive a score indicating their performance. Students will fall in to one of the four categories below:

• Masters
• Meets
• Approaches (Passing Standard)
• Did Not Meet

Time Limits

TEA established a four (4) hour time limit for STAAR grades 3-8 assessments. TEA notes that tests are designed to be finished in 2 hours however all students are provided fours to complete the test. The rationale for time limits aligns Texas testing practices with other timed state and national assessments, i.e. SAT, ACT and AP examinations. Extended time accommodations for students with unique learning needs will continue to be offered.

Impact on Grade Advancement

The Student Success Initiative requires that students in grades 5 and 8 pass both STAAR reading and math exams to be promoted to the next grade. Students will test in April and May.  Summer testing will be provided as an additional opportunity to pass the STAAR fifth- and eighth-grade reading and math exams.

High School STAAR assessments

Math	Algebra I
English	English I, English II
Science	Biology
Social Studies	U.S. History

Any student that was in an course that is connected to an EOC and earned credit for that course in Spring or Summer 2020 then the EOC test was waived, with no retest required.  If you are unsure if your student received this waiver please check with your campus counselor.  

What to expect on the test

English/Language Arts

• The English I and II End-of-course (EOC) assessments encompass both reading and writing. This EOC is administered in one day and has a five-hour limit.
• English I students are asked to write an expository composition.
• English II students are asked to write a persuasive composition.

Mathematics

• Underlying processes and mathematical tools will be incorporated into at least 75% of the test questions from the content reporting categories and will be reported along with the content standards.
• Questions are cognitively complex.
• Questions have multiple steps.
• The assessment includes questions that are asked in a reverse manner (e.g., “NOT” questions).
• The assessment includes questions where the answer could be “Not here”, “None of the above”, or “All of the above.”

Biology

• It is a cumulative exam that includes knowledge and skills from all areas of Biology.

U.S. History

• It is a cumulative exam that includes knowledge and skills from all areas of US History.
• The assessment requires students to process information and arrive at a conclusion.
• The assessment requires students to read and analyze primary and secondary sources such as visuals, maps and excerpts.

Testing Timeline

1st Testing Administration	2nd Opportunity (July)	3rd Opportunity (December)
Spring	Summer	Fall

Impact on Graduation

Under current guidelines of House Bill 3 (HB 3), of the 82nd Texas Legislature, the 9th grade class starting in 2011-2012, students will take up to 5 EOC assessments listed above based on their participation in courses. Each student must meet an Approaches Level on each EOC assessment they take in order to graduate.

Time Limits

TEA established a four (4) hour time limit for both STAAR grades 3-8 assessments and STAAR EOC assessments in Algebra 1, Biology and US History. There is a (5) hour time limit for STAAR EOC English I & English II assessments. TEA notes that a four/five hour time limit should provide sufficient time for the majority of students to complete the tests. The rationale for time limits aligns Texas testing practices with other timed state and national assessments, i.e. SAT, ACT and AP examinations. Extended time accommodations for students with unique learning needs will continue to be offered.

Student Performance

Once students have taken a STAAR assessment they will receive a score indicating their performance. Students will fall in to one of the four categories below:

• Masters
• Meets
• Approaches (Passing Standard)
• Did Not Meet

High school students may continue to take the exams until they meet the passing standards.

Summer STAAR EOC Retest Opportunities

Students who have already qualified to take an End-of-Course STAAR test may retest each summer if they did not meet the Approaches level. STAAR retests are being offered at a central location. Contact your school to sign up for summer retest opportunities.

Is there a time limit?

• Yes. With the exception of the English I and English II EOCs, all STAAR tests for all grade levels have a four-hour time limit. English I and English II EOCs have a five-hour time limit. The test will start when students are directed to begin their test.

Are breaks allowed during STAAR assessment administration?

• The following breaks are included in the time limit (time does NOT stop for): 
  • Breaks for water or snacks
  • Bathroom breaks
• Breaks for physical activity (e.g. standing up and stretching)
• The following breaks are not included in the time limit (time does stop for):
  • Routine medical breaks (e.g. to take medicine)
  • Breaks for lunch

What are the testing requirements for middle school students taking Algebra I, Geometry, or Algebra II?

• Algebra I middle school students will take the Algebra I EOC. Middle school students taking Geometry or Algebra II will take their grade level STAAR assessments. All students grade 3-8 must take a Mathematics assessment per Texas Education Code (TEC) 39.023.

How are the STAAR EOC assessments related to graduation requirements?

• Students must achieve Approaches in English I, English II, Algebra I, Biology, and US History in order to be eligible for graduation. This is just one requirement for graduation. For more information about the additional graduation requirements, see: Graduation Requirements.

How many times can a student retake a STAAR EOC?

• A student may retake an end-of-course assessment as many times as s/he may need to achieve Approaches.

What does the STAAR test?

• The STAAR test assesses the readiness and supporting standards in the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills.  The STAAR emphasizes "readiness" standards, which are the knowledge and skills that are considered most important for success in the grade or course subject that follows and for college and career. 

What are the benefits of state testing?

• Informs parents and the community of the educational progress of students on the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills standards.
•  Provides a more objective view of instruction and learning. Without assessments, education is a very anecdotal field based on qualitative information.
•  Provides information on an initial basis in order for teachers to teach students according to their needs and expand their areas of 'expertise'.
•  Data doesn’t lie, but it doesn’t tell the whole story. The STAAR is one point of data NISD uses to understand how well instruction leads to learning. It is not the only point of data NISD uses. We believe the STAAR is one piece of the puzzle used to create a whole picture. There are numerous other pieces of the puzzle.

If a parent has concerns regarding his/her child taking a STAAR exam, what should he/she do?

• The first step for a parent who is concerned about his/her child taking the STAAR exam is to contact the campus principal. Most concerns are resolved based upon the conversation between the parent and school. Principals will provide information that often alleviates specific concerns and can clarify possible misconceptions. 

What does Texas Education Code state about opting out of state testing?

• Sec. 26.010. EXEMPTION FROM INSTRUCTION. (a) A parent is entitled to remove the parent's child temporarily from a class or other school activity that conflicts with the parent's religious or moral beliefs if the parent presents or delivers to the teacher of the parent's child a written statement authorizing the removal of the child from the class or other school activity. A parent is not entitled to remove the parent's child from a class or other school activity to avoid a test or to prevent the child from taking a subject for an entire semester.(b) This section does not exempt a child from satisfying grade level or graduation requirements in a manner acceptable to the school district and the agency. Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 260, Sec. 1, eff. May 30, 1995.

Can Northwest ISD choose to opt out students from TEA policy?

• No. Under current TEA policies and state law, local public school district lack the authority to exempt any student from STAAR testing.

What are the implications for students missing school on a state testing date to “opt out”?

• Students are subject to compulsory attendance and may commit the offense of failure to attend school, and a parent may commit the offense of contributing to nonattendance, if the student fails to attend school. (Texas Education Code §§ 25.093, .094)
• Makeup Tests: It is important to note that missing school on a single designated test date will not necessarily cause the student to have missed his or her testing opportunity. Most tests are administered from a testing “window” set by TEA. If a student who has been absent returns to school during the testing window, he or she may be asked to sit for the exam at that time. Makeup test dates that extend beyond the test window are in place for most STAAR tests.

Can a student be present at school, but not take the STAAR exam?

• Students are encouraged to do their best on all tests. All students in a tested grade level that are present at school during the STAAR test for their grade level are included in the test administration. Should a student be present, but not participate in a test, the student’s test will be coded as “S” for “scorable.” Campuses are required to submit a score code for every student.

What are the implications for a student that does not complete the STAAR or STAAR EOC?

A student who does not complete the STAAR exam earns a score of zero, which is unsatisfactory performance on the STAAR. Each time a student does not perform satisfactorily on STAAR in grades 3 through 8, the district is required to provide the student with accelerated instruction. Districts can satisfy the accelerated instruction requirement by assigning the student to a classroom teacher who holds certain designations under the local optional teacher designation system or by providing the student with tutoring that meets the statutory requirements (see EHBC(LEGAL)). Tex. Educ. Code § 28.0211.

High School Graduation: Students must pass the five end-of-course exams or an acceptable substitute in order to graduate, as described above. By local policy, a school district may issue a certificate of coursework completion to a student who successfully completes curriculum requirements but who fails required state assessment tests. Texas Education Code §§28.025(d).

• English 1: Tuesday, June 20, 2023
• English 2: Wednesday, June 21, 2023
• Algebra 1: Wednesday, June 21, 2023
• U.S. History: Tuesday, June 20, 2023
• Biology: Thursday, June 22, 2023

Dates of Tests subject to change

Registration for Summer 2023 EOC Testing will open in May 2023.

Accessing STAAR Test Results

STAAR test results for the 2021-2022 school year are available at the Texas Student Assessment Family Portal, located at www.texasassessment.gov.

You can see the following data in the portal:

• Testing history of all your student’s previous scores on any state-level test your student has taken in Texas, including STAAR, STAAR EOC, STAAR ALT, TELPAS and TELPAS ALT.
• Test results of this year’s STAAR tests.
• Detailed results allowing you to see each test question, how your student answered that question, and if your student answered the item correctly.

 
How to obtain your unique access code:

If you do not have the unique access code readily available, there are two ways to locate the access code. The first is through the Texas Education Agency's portal. The second is through your child's Edugence account in the Northwest ISD portal.

Through TEA:

1. Open www.texasassessment.gov
2. Under “More Login Information,” click on the “Lookup unique access code?” link.
3. Complete the information, including student first name, the student's SSN or TSDS, and the student's birthdate.

Through Northwest ISD:

1. Visit the Northwest ISD portal at portal.nisdtx.org and select the "Edugence" icon or name.
2. In the light gray box on the left-hand side, you will see a 6 character, underlined number. It is hyperlinked. That is the unique access code. This hyperlink does not copy the access code, however.
3. You will need to type that code into the box labeled “6-character Unique Code” on the family portal.

What are the different STAAR Performance levels?

• Masters level (Passing): Students are expected to succeed in the next grade or course with little or no academic intervention. Students in this category demonstrate the ability to think critically and apply the assessed knowledge and skills in varied contexts, both familiar and unfamiliar.  
• Meets level (Passing): Students have a high likelihood of success in the next grade or course but may still need some short-term, targeted academic intervention. Students in this category generally demonstrate the ability to think critically and apply the assessed knowledge and skills in familiar contexts. 
• Approaches level (Passing): Students are likely to succeed in the next grade or course with targeted academic intervention. Students in this category generally demonstrate the ability to apply the assessed knowledge and skills in familiar contexts. 
• Did Not Meet (Not Passing): Students are unlikely to succeed in the next grade or course without significant, ongoing academic intervention. Students in this category do not demonstrate a sufficient understanding of the assessed knowledge and skills.

 
If you have any additional questions, please contact Dr. Melissa DeSimone, executive director of research, accountability and assessment, via email at mdesimone@nisdtx.org or by phone at 817-215-0057.